THE governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the health sector, saying that his administration will continue to guarantee that quality healthcare is accessible and cheap to people of the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the statement yesterday while receiving Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, who paid him a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina.
The governor congratulated Alausa on his appointment as a minister by President Bola Tinubu, stating that the minister would do well in his duties and collaborate with state governments and other ministries to improve the quality of health care delivery in the country.
The governor’s statements which were made available on the state government’s website read in parts, “Our conversation with you has confirmed our preparedness and our level of collaboration with the Federal Government. We want to assure you that we are willing to collaborate in areas where your expertise can complement all of the things that we are doing so that at the end of it, our people who are the reason why we are in government can feel the benefit of all the interventions that we do.
“We want to assure you (Dr. Alausa) that Lagos State is more than ready and prepared to come up with various steps that will ensure that health is not only accessible but also affordable.”
During his speech, Alausa underlined the Federal Government’s willingness to assist the Lagos State Government and other sub-national governments in providing people with inexpensive and accessible healthcare services.
He also challenged the state government to do more, particularly with regard to the State Universal Health Insurance programs.
Alausa stated that his visit to the governor aimed to make the state a model for other states throughout the country in providing improved healthcare in line with the Tinubu-led administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The minister urged Nigerians, particularly females aged between nine to fourteen years, to take the Human Papillomavirus vaccination, which was launched on Tuesday, saying that the vaccine, which is safe and effective, has the potential to prevent cervical cancer by 95 percent.
Alausa, who was accompanied by numerous Federal Ministry of Health officials and aides, stated that Lagos was his first port of call for his working visit throughout the Federation’s 36 states.
